Android Headliner: Why the HTC One (M8)’s Camera Misses the Mark

 

If you’re a fan of great-looking hardware, good sound quality and meaningful software features, then this was a good week for you. The new HTC One (M8) hit the scene and then immediately became available in stores. However, if you’re a fan of genuinely good mobile photography, then this week wasn’t so good for you. The new HTC One features some pretty impressive camera features, and definitely has some bragging rights, there’s no denying that. However, when all’s said and done, we’re left with low-resolution, soft images that most of us with even a passing interest in photography would have issues with sharing. The Duo Camera at the heart of the HTC One misses the mark, and instead of focusing on genuinely good images, HTC chased gimmicks.

Being able to edit photos after the fact to the degree that HTC allows in the new One is brilliant, and being able to refocus parts of a shot is downright cool. However, that novelty will soon wear thin when you realize that you’re just shooting 4-megapixel images a lot of the time. There’s nothing “ultra” about a 4-megapixel file in 2014, no matter how big those pixels are, HTC. Last year when reviewing the HTC One, I was very impressed with the camera and as I prefer to shoot with honest camera hardware, as oppose to smartphones, it takes a lot to impress me in a phone. I love photography, and it’s a very personal interest of mine. The photos I take are the ones that I want to keep as memories, pieces of art and that I want to share with my friends and family. Instagram is a fad as far as I’m concerned and while everyone thinks they can take a good-looking photo thanks to “Vintage Look filter #3456819391″, they can’t. Unfortunately for us that genuinely care about our images though, it’s the Instagram generation HTC has targeted here.

Being able to shoot slow-motion video in HD, easily control the ISO and White Balance while shooting, refocus after the fact are all awesome; but they’re just another fad. The uncomfortable truth when talking about the UltraPixel camera on the HTC One (M8) is that HTC grew lazy. Sure, it takes in a lot of light, which is key, but that’s all it can do. With Optical Image Stabilisation available in even the Nexus 5, it’s just sad to not see it being used here on the One. Add that to the fact that 2560 x 1600 screens are on most high-end tablets, and sharing images and footage to our TVs is getting easier and easier with Chromecast and other similar services, and that 4-megapixel shooter will start to show its age.

Last year, the HTC One produced bright, colorful images that looked more like genuine photos than other smartphone shooters. However, even then there were cracks showing and while everyone else pulled their socks up and Sony and Samsung both introduced better imaging experiences, HTC added another camera and a cool, fashionable feature. What they should have done, is spent time thinking how they could improve the UltraPixel camera in ways that would help it stay relevant, and continue to take the great shots that HTC promised it would.

I can’t say for certain just how good, or how bad, the images from this new HTC One are until I take some shots with it myself. However, things aren’t looking good for HTC and their Duo Camera. When I do get my hands on the new HTC One, I’ll be excited to try out the new camera, and I hope to be proven wrong, but so far it seems that HTC have left the one feature that needed work the most untouched.

Android OTA: Device Updates & Firmware Report – March 28th Edition

Android 4.4.2 Update Continues for the One in the UK, While the One Max Gets Android 4.4.2 Across Europe

Last month, the update to Android 4.4.2 KitKat was halted in the UK for the HTC One due to users reporting problems. Now however, things are back on those on all the major networks across the pond should be getting the update now. The update is more of an under-the-hood sort of thing, bringing with it few cosmetic changes, but it’s nice to have. The same can be said for the HTC One Max across Europe, as it’s been reported that the same update is rolling out to users of the 5.9-inch giant throughout the region.

The Nokia X Receives its First Update…Allow Color Changing of Tiles

Nokia’s weird Android phone has received its first update this past week and brings with it the ability to change the color of third-party app tiles on the main display. While nothing groundbreaking or anything, it’s a nice feature we suppose. The OTA was only small at 16MB in size, and changing colors for app tiles is as simple as long pressing on them and choosing the color wheel option.

HTC One Mini on AT&T Gets Android 4.4.2 and Sense 5.5

HTC have been pretty busy this week, announced a new smartphone and all, but they still managed to find time for some of their users of the HTC One Mini. On AT&T, the device has been bought up to Android 4.4.2 KitKat and is now running Sense 5.5 to boot. You’ve probably already gotten the update by now, but if you’re still waiting on it, the version number you’re looking for is 3.10.502.3 and it comes in at a sizable 658MB. Definitely one to download over WiFi, the Sense 5.5 side of things will bring extra features to BlinkFeed and more.

Sony Xperia Z1, Z1 Compact and Xperia Z Ultra Are Now Running Android 4.4.2 KitKat

Over the last couple of weeks, Sony has been rolling out Android 4.4.2 to their flagship devices of 2013, including the Xperia Z1, the Z1 Compact and the Xperia Z Ultra. All three devices should now be running software version 14.3.A.0.681, with mostly cosmetic changes. Essentially, this update brings a little of the KitKat look to Sony’s skin and brings things in line with the Xperia Z2. The emoji in the keyboard are now that of the Google Keyboard, the status bar icons are now all white and overall, things just look a little more like Google’s vision of KitKat, and there is a little bit of a speed boost as well. A nice update to have for sure, it should have hit most devices by now.

HTC One Max on Sprint Receives KitKat Update

Keeping their updates on the right track, HTC and Sprint rolled out Android 4.4.2 to the One Max earlier this week and while it’s too soon for a Sense 6 update, there’s still a lot to love about some tasty KitKat action on the One Max. The build number for this one is 2.09.651.1 and it comes in at 340MB, so download over WiFi when ready.

Sony’s Xperia M Receives Android 4.3 Jelly Bean Update

The extremely budget-minded Xperia M just got a little better this week thanks to the update to Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. The build number is 15.4.A.0.23 and this is something that only really applies to our European readers, as it’s rolled out in a number of European countries. While nothing special, it’s a nice update and does bring with it some of the more updated Sony features to the Xperia M.

BlinkFeed Will Soon be Available for Non-HTC Devices

The All New HTC One has finally been made official, and now that it is officially in our lives, we can settle down and wait for the next thing. In the mean time, some of you may be digging HTC’s BlinkFeed, but you don’t have an HTC One device. You’ll be glad to know that BlinkFeed will be making its way into the Pay Store for non-HTC devices to use. Some of you might laugh at the notion, but it actually isn’t a bad little app. We all love news feeds, and there are countless apps for feeds out there, only BlinkFeed really tries to bring all you need together in one smooth running feed.

I guess HTC felt that BlinkFeed was popular enough to release in the Play Store, and they plan on pushing more of their apps into the Play Store as well. Seems to be working for Moto X apps, and it makes them easier to update the app rather than having to push a complete update through an OTA. Let us know what you think about this idea, and if you would download it onto your non-HTC device.

All-New HTC One Specs Leak Out

It’s unclear whether the all-new HTC One will score phone of the year like the last one did, but we do know it’s about to win the award for “worst kept secret in history”. The specs of the new device have reportedly leaked, and it looks like we’re going to be enjoying a super-fast, 5-inch beast.

According to GSMArena, the all-new HTC One (please don’t really be called that), will be packing a 5-inch, 1080p screen, a 2.3GHz clock speed thanks to the new Snapdragon 801 processor, a 2600mAh battery and a four-megapixel camera with Ultrapixel technology.

HTC BoomSound is back thanks to the two front-facing speakers but the front-facing camera will reportedly be 5-megapixels (likely sans-Ultrapixel), which might be hard for people to understand, especially those who haven’t had Ultrapixel explained to them. Basically, HTC wants to rely on larger pixels on the image sensor to capture more light and detail rather than just focus on the size of the sensor itself. Larger pixels on the sensor, better low-light performance. That means that the rear-facing camera — the important one — is only four-megapixels rather than the 10+ offered by competitors like the Galaxy S4, S5 and LG G2.

It’s also going to reportedly pack a new software feature called Motion Launch which will let you answer a call by just holding the phone straight to your ear when it rings. Weird.

We’ll figure out what’s real and what’s fake at the launch in a few weeks. [GSMArena]